Tony Wood: How To Find the Will of God for My Life?

How to Inquire into God's Will

If we wish to inquire into God's will, we must embrace the ordinary means of grace. We must mediate on God's inspired Word. We must pray without ceasing. We must regularly assemble with God's people in covenant worship. We must submit to the spiritual leadership of our pastors. We must conscientiously participate in the (ordnances) of baptism and the Lord's Supper. Additionally, we should pursue a simple lifestyle instead of materialism, chastity instead of impurity, and forgiveness instead of bitterness...We must choose obedience instead of opportunism, initiative instead of idleness, exertion instead of equivocation, and pursuing God's agenda over the idolatrous interests of our hearts.

Hensworth W.C. Jonas, Radical Discipleship

Book Review: Just Do Something by Kevin DeYoung

When I started attending church as a teenager, one thing that was constantly taught was finding God's will. I even took Henry Blackaby's course Experiencing God which, to be honest, never got much out of it especially after taking the it again a few years ago. One of my classes at East Texas Baptist University, required us to read Blaine Smith's book, Knowing God's Will.

When it comes to God's will in decision making, we look to outside sources that could be taken as mystic at times. We treat finding the will of God as a taking an aptitude test to find out what skills He has given us so we can see what the will of God is.

Kevin DeYoung has written a wonderful book that shows us the will of God is not something we have to look for in the most obscure places. The book is called Just Do Something. Nothing too mystical, just straight to the point. When making decisions, we should never try to look for signs in the sky or interpreting dreams. We should always test the things we do based on what God has revealed in the Bible.

While some may struggle with finding out what they want to do with their lives, we know the will of God through the pages of Scripture. The Bible is full of practical insight into what God wants from His children. However, the Bible does not tell us what job we should take, what college to attend, or who to marry. I do believe all things are in conjunction with the sovereign will of God, but God does not show us everything. If God shows us everything, where would faith be.

DeYoung writes that following the will of God can be harder, denying self and loving your enemies, then taking a new job and moving to another city. The will of God for Christians is spelled out in Scripture. Everything we do must be backed up by the Bible. If you are offered a job that promises good money yet they have a reputation of unlawful business practices, it is best not to take that job. The same thing with the person you want to marry. God tells us not to unequally yoked, so marrying a non-Christian is not a good idea.

This is book is straightforward and practical. I would give this to any college student struggling with what they want to do in their life. I would give this to teenagers who are about two or three years away from graduating.

Thanks Moody Publishers for letting me review this book.